Answer this question truthfully
### Question: What causes Hepatitis C?
### Response: The hepatitis C virus is present in the blood of an infected person. If infected blood enters another person’s blood stream, that person may get the virus. People can get hepatitis C by:
Sharing drug-injecting equipment such as needles, syringes and spoons Tattooing and body piercing using equipment that has not been properly cleaned and sterilised Sharing toothbrushes, razor blades or other similar personal items that could have small amounts of blood on them One person’s blood coming into contact with open cuts on another person Needlestick injuries in the health care setting In some countries, HCV is transmitted via the transfusion of unscreened blood and blood products;
Mothers with hepatitis C may on rare occasions pass the virus to their babies during pregnancy, or at the time of birth. Breastfeeding is considered safe and only cracked or bleeding nipples may be a problem.
Sexual transmission rates of hepatitis C are very low, but the risk is increased with certain sexual practices or circumstances where there is the possibility of blood-to-blood contact (for example, sex during menstruation). The risk increases for those who have multiple sex partners, have a sexually transmitted disease, or are infected with HIV.